Ms. Neissa St. Jean selected as Kadena High School Assistant Principal

Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Pacific South District Superintendent Dr. Melissa Hayes is pleased to announce the selection of Ms. Neissa St. Jean as assistant principal at Kadena High School, located at Kadena Air Base.

Ms. St. Jean began her career as a public school teacher in Florida before spending nine years as an international educator in China. In 2020, she joined DoDEA at Ramstein Intermediate School in Germany, where she was honored as the second recipient of the Dr. Linda L. Curtis Educator of Promise Award. This recognition led St. Jean to collaborate across regions and serve as a voice on the Teacher Advisory Board (TABS), working with the Educator Directorate group and educators across DoDEA to advance student success through clarity, consistency, and excellence.

She later served at Crossroads Elementary in Quantico, Va., and Zukeran Elementary in Okinawa, where she worked as both a classroom teacher and Literacy Support Specialist. She has served as a mentor, facilitator, and curriculum leader, raising awareness of student engagement and agency. One of her most impactful projects was organizing monthly parent workshops for more than 100 families, equipping parents with strategies to support English language learning at home.

St. Jean holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and ESOL.  Master’s degree in Reading (K–12) and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration (K–12). These credentials, combined with years of leading literacy and interdisciplinary initiatives, have shaped her philosophy to focus on student growth, teacher empowerment, and building systems that allow all learners to thrive.

St. Jean believes academics cannot reach their full potential if student well being is not first addressed. 

“You must connect before you correct, because relationships are the foundation of learning,” she shared. “Engagement matters, because teaching is not the goal; learning is.”

St. Jean is looking forward to joining the Panthers’ leadership team.

“As assistant principal, I will continue to build authentic connections,” she said. “Parents, I look forward to partnering with you. Teachers, I will stand beside you with clarity and consistency. And students, I will champion your growth whether through